ISEE Upper Level Verbal : Identifying Synonyms

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ISEE Upper Level Verbal

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Example Questions

Example Question #3 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Quality, Quantity, And Variety

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

ERRATIC

Possible Answers:

Wrong

Foolish

Unreliable

Forgetful

Irregular

Correct answer:

Irregular

Explanation:

Among your options, it might be tempting to choose “unreliable”; however, the closest meaning for “erratic” is “irregular” or unpredictable. The word comes originally from the Latin meaning to stray or wander. When someone “errs,” he or she might make a mistake, but the strict sense is that person “goes the wrong way.” Someone might be “unreliable” because they are erratic; however, that is only because that person is irregular or unpredictable. Because they are so, they are thus unreliable.

Example Question #4 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Quality, Quantity, And Variety

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

PROLIFIC

Possible Answers:

Famous

Abundant

Ornate

Flowery

Prominent

Correct answer:

Abundant

Explanation:

The word “prolific” comes from the Latin for “bearing offspring.” When an animal is “prolific” it bears much fruit or many children. When an artist is prolific, he or she produces many works. An example sentence would be, “The old man had been a prolific author during his lifetime, writing over a hundred best-selling thriller novels.”

Example Question #315 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

VAPID

Possible Answers:

Quick

Dull

Appropriate

Risky

Steamy

Correct answer:

Dull

Explanation:

Originally used to describe beverages lacking in flavor, "vapid" came to describe anything that is dull or insipid.

Example Question #5 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Quality, Quantity, And Variety

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

BANAL

Possible Answers:

Popular

Vapid

Profound

Pitiful

Ridiculous

Correct answer:

Vapid

Explanation:

When something is banal, it is extremely overused and has little meaning because of that. For instance, one might speak of a “banal phrase” that is really nothing but empty words or “banal song lyrics” that really express no meaning at all. When something is “vapid,” it does not stimulate at all. The word “vapid” comes from the Latin for “flat” or “tasteless.”

Example Question #5 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Quality, Quantity, And Variety

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

FRUITFUL

Possible Answers:

Amiable

Blighted

Fecund

Growing

Innocuous

Correct answer:

Fecund

Explanation:

“Fruitful” means fertile, plentiful, fecund, or producing a lot of something, so "fecund," meaning fertile, is the correct answer. As for the other answer choices, “innocuous” means harmless; "blighted" means diseased and specifically refers to plants; "amiable" means friendly and warm in demeanor; and "growing" means maturing.

Example Question #919 : Synonyms

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

PEDESTRIAN

Possible Answers:

Uneventful

Languid

Exquisite

Heavy

Thrilling

Correct answer:

Uneventful

Explanation:

When used as a noun, "pedestrian" means "a person walking along a road or in a developed area." When used as an adjective, however, "pedestrian" means "lacking inspiration or excitement; dull." "Thrilling" cannot be the correct answer because "thrilling" is an antonym of "vim," and while "languid" may seem close in meaning to "pedestrian," "languid" means "displaying or having a disinclination for physical exertion or effort; slow and relaxed" when describing a person, manner, or gesture, "pleasantly lazy and peaceful" when describing an occasion or period of time, or "weak or faint from illness or fatigue." "Uneventful," an adjective that means "not marked by interesting or exciting events," is the closest synonym to "pedestrian" amongst the listed answer choices, so "uneventful" is the correct answer.

Example Question #691 : Identifying Synonyms

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

MYRIAD

Possible Answers:

Innumerable

Describable

Variable

Measurable

Acceptable

Correct answer:

Innumerable

Explanation:

If a high school offers a myriad of classes, it means that there is a vast amount or a seemingly innumerable number of classes.

Example Question #692 : Identifying Synonyms

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

MYRIAD

Possible Answers:

Portrait

Overabundance

Pyramid

Innumerable

Structure

Correct answer:

Innumerable

Explanation:

The word “myriad” is derived from the Greek for "10,000." In general, it is used to describe a countless multitude of things. For that reason, the best option among the provided answers is “innumerable.” An example usage would be, “Roger wished to do something so foolish that his friends were able to provide him with myriad reasons, overwhelming him with reasons for making such a stupid choice.”

Example Question #693 : Identifying Synonyms

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

PLATITUDINOUS

Possible Answers:

Annoying

Tedious

Unhelpful

Overused

Boring

Correct answer:

Overused

Explanation:

You might be more familiar with the word “platitude” than with “platitudinous.” The former is the related noun form of the same base. A “platitude” is an expression, often moral in nature, that has been so overused that it has lost its meaning. You might know someone who recites such expressions as, “Everything happens for a reason.” Such remarks either tell you nothing or often just frustrate you when horrible things happen. They provide little consolation or direction. Although a “platitudinous” expression could be called “annoying,” it is most properly said to be something “overused.” The annoyance follows on the fact that overuse has totally shorn it of its meaning and significance.

Example Question #694 : Identifying Synonyms

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

REPLETE

Possible Answers:

Pugnacious

Abounding

Disingenuous

Scant

Evanescent

Correct answer:

Abounding

Explanation:

"Replete" and "abounding" both mean full or well-stocked. "Scant" means meager or paltry. "Disingenuous" means insincere or deceitful. "Evanescent" means transient or brief. "Pugnacious" means belligerent or aggressive.

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